Australia\u2019s most decorated soldier and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has travelled to Canberra to commemorate 25 years since the start of Australia\u2019s involvement in the war in Afghanistan \u2013 the country in which police allege the former SAS soldier was involved in the killing of unarmed men. <\/p>\n
The Victoria Cross recipient currently faces five counts of war crime murder following his arrest by Australian Federal Police in April.<\/p>\n
The charges relate to the alleged killings of five unarmed men while Mr Roberts-Smith was deployed to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. <\/p>\n
He has not entered any pleas, but has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the allegations, which were the subject of his unsuccessful Federal Court defamation suit against Nine Newspapers.<\/p>\n
Donning his medals, Mr Roberts-Smith attended the service at the War Memorial on Sunday to mark 25 years since the establishment of Operation Slipper, the first of several Australian Defence Force operations during the war in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
More than 35,000 Australians served in Australia and the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) following the September 11 attacks in New York.<\/p>\n
Those personnel were involved in a range of activities, including initial counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency operations, as well as mentoring of the then-Afghan Army and humanitarian support. <\/p>\n
They included Warrant Officer (Retd) Mick Enchong and his two children, Flight Lieutenant Jason Enchong and Sergeant Tara Enchong, who the War Memorial said are believed to be the first father, son and daughter trio to deploy into an area of operations when they served in Afghanistan on Operation Slipper in 2012.<\/p>\n
The family reconnected ahead of Sunday’s event. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are delighted to have highlighted this story in our new Afghanistan gallery,\u201d AWM director Matt Anderson said. <\/p>\n
\u201cA family of over 100 years of service has paid an incredible service to this country.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a speech, Anthony Albanese noted artefacts from the conflict retained by the War Memorial, including a pair of fluffy dices Captain Likas Wild took from his V12 Monaro to Afghanistan. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they offer us is a strikingly and profoundly Australian moment from what was, in so many ways, a deeply Australian story,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Mr Albanese said Australia intervened in the conflict, which also proceeded the 2002 Bali bombings, because \u201cwe saw what was at stake\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we went on the principle that September 11 was an attack on a way of life that belonged just as much to us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe very freedoms that are at the heart of who we are as a people and a nation were under threat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s contribution was \u201ccomplex\u201d and upheld \u201cthe finest of Australian military traditions in the process\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir courage, the strength of their character and the bonds of their camaraderie are a beacon to us still.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Albanese also acknowledged the courage of everyday Afghans who worked as interpreters and served in the Afghan National Army. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany of them are here with us today. We acknowledge them, we thank them, and we honour them,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday, our nation expresses our respect and our gratitude to all who have served in our name. The fighters for peace, the keepers of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a joint media release with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Veterans Minister Matt Keogh, Mr Albanese said Operation Slipper had been \u201cthe beginning of a significant chapter in our nation\u2019s military history\u201d.<\/p>\n
Deployment to Afghanistan would also go on to shape \u201ca generation of Defence personnel, veterans and families\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many, service in Afghanistan often meant long periods away from loved ones, operating in dangerous and demanding environments, and working alongside coalition partners, Afghan forces and Australian government and non-government organisations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we honour all Australians \u2013 Navy, Army, Air Force and civilian \u2013 who served in Afghanistan and in the Middle East Area of Operations. We also recognise their families, friends and communities who carried the weight of that service alongside them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remember all who died during or as a result of their service in Afghanistan, including the 47 ADF members currently listed on the Australian War Memorial\u2019s Roll of Honour. We also recognise those who returned carrying visible and invisible wounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA quarter of a century on, Australian service in Afghanistan forms part of our national story, marked by sacrifice, mateship, resilience and an enduring commitment to service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also in attendance is SAS veteran and Coalition frontbencher Andrew Hastie, who testified in Mr Roberts-Smith \u2018s defamation trial.<\/p>\n
Mr Hastie lay a wreath opposite Mr Keogh, Nationals MP Michael McCormack, veteran and Herbert MP Phil Thompson, Mr Keogh, and Mr Marles. <\/p>\n
Former prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Angus Taylor were also in attendance. <\/p>\n
In a statement, Mr Taylor said his \u201cthoughts and deep gratitude are with all those who served in Afghanistan, and especially with the families of those Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201c Your service made a difference. Your service made our nation and the world safer,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cToday is also a significant day for many Afghans who risked their lives to work with the Australians Defence Force and are now committed fellow Australians.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy commitment to Australians is to keep out and root out Islamist extremism. We will protect our way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
37 Australians died during service in Afghanistan. <\/p>\n
They included Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, Private Robert Poate, and Sapper James Martin, who were killed when an Afghan army sergeant, influenced by Taliban propaganda, opened fire on them while they were off-duty at a base in Uruzgan province. <\/p>\n
The United States, with support from a broad coalition of allies, invaded Afghanistan to route the terrorist group al-Qaeda, as well as topple the extremist Taliban government, following the September 11 attacks. <\/p>\n
However, despite more than two-decades of combat, infrastructure, and civilian activities \u2013 including by Australia \u2013 the capital Kabul again fell to the Taliban during the untied States\u2019 hasty 2022 withdrawal. <\/p>\n
Neither Australia nor the United States have diplomatic relations with the de facto Taliban regime, however, any change in power remains unlikely. <\/p>\n
Mr Roberts-Smith\u2019s bail conditions were varied earlier this year so he could attend the opening of the War Memorial’s multimillion-dollar new wing in June.<\/p>\n
He did not attend due to illness. <\/p>\n
The Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs will also release a coin to all attendees on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australia\u2019s most decorated soldier and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has travelled to Canberra to commemorate 25 years…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":924002,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[491780,409220,491811,406802,465165,491832,491812,411340,491827,491851,252305,491810,491820,382243,392997,491773,384688,414659,491816,381131,381072,491842,463723,378100,380260,491852,395653,491822,491815,376637,491776,491813,83109,491826,20813,491800,13048,491779,433127,381933,491774,491777,2324,491845,378640,491775,23285,129550,56128,64,63,29622,2492,491854,491837,491849,491794,139278,2667,491798,62768,491807,491855,160669,110068,491782,57748,5946,491792,491844,491785,491853,491778,491846,491833,491857,491819,486735,491789,491790,491791,491856,70953,491829,491835,451788,15388,8280,491834,363555,242555,491847,86580,491804,297851,433770,433720,491799,491803,491840,44,187436,491841,491784,36137,491787,488398,433789,491772,491830,491783,491771,6622,56036,1158,376545,38475,491781,491793,45026,491797,5265,491801,491788,136724,491839,58543,8825,491823,491825,491821,491795,384457,483648,108848,377055,421785,376537,313300,466883,401393,491843,491818,382541,491838,491786,379036,491850,422236,491817,395462,376868,491831,399647,376950,386811,382113,491814,491836,491848,314784,485639,225863,491802,491828,491796,378914,418878,377115,382773,12530,24080,64171,39,491809,38303,491824,491858,491805,288971,491806,491808],"class_list":["post-924001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-s-defamation-trial-mr-hastie","tag-sacrifice","tag-s-afghanistan-involvement","tag-s-contribution","tag-s-involvement","tag-s-military-history","tag-s-roll","tag-000-australians","tag-2009-and-2012","tag-2012-the-family","tag-25-years","tag-25th-afghanistan-war-anniversary","tag-25th-war-anniversary","tag-a-beacon","tag-a-century","tag-a-deeply-australian-story","tag-a-family","tag-a-generation","tag-a-joint-media-release","tag-a-nation","tag-a-pair","tag-a-people","tag-a-quarter","tag-a-range","tag-a-result","tag-a-significant-chapter","tag-a-speech","tag-a-strikingly-and-profoundly-australian-moment","tag-a-war-memorial-ceremony","tag-a-way","tag-a-wreath-opposite","tag-accused-war-criminal-ben-roberts-smith","tag-activities","tag-afghan-forces","tag-afghanistan","tag-afghanistan-more-than-35","tag-air-force","tag-all-australians-navy","tag-an-area","tag-an-attack","tag-an-enduring-commitment","tag-an-incredible-service","tag-anthony-albanese","tag-any-pleas","tag-any-wrongdoing","tag-april-the-charges","tag-army","tag-artefacts","tag-attendance","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-federal-police","tag-australian-government","tag-australian-military-traditions","tag-australian-service","tag-awm-director-matt-anderson","tag-big-appearance","tag-brs","tag-canberra","tag-captain-likas-wild","tag-civilian","tag-coalition-frontbencher-andrew-hastie","tag-coalition-partners","tag-defence-personnel","tag-deployment","tag-deputy-prime-minister-richard-marles","tag-environments","tag-event","tag-everyday-afghans","tag-five-counts","tag-five-unarmed-men","tag-flight-lieutenant-jason-enchong","tag-fluffy-dices","tag-former-prime-ministers","tag-former-sas-soldier-ben-roberts-smith","tag-friends-and-communities","tag-herbert-mp-phil-thompson","tag-his-arrest","tag-his-medals","tag-his-two-children","tag-his-unsuccessful-federal-court-defamation-suit","tag-his-v12-monaro","tag-honour","tag-humanitarian-support","tag-initial-counter-terrorism-and-counterinsurgency-operations","tag-interpreters","tag-john-howard","tag-life","tag-long-periods","tag-loved-ones","tag-mateship","tag-meao","tag-mentoring","tag-mick-enchong","tag-mr-albanese","tag-mr-keogh","tag-mr-marles","tag-mr-roberts-smith","tag-nationals-mp-michael-mccormack","tag-new-york-those-personnel","tag-news","tag-newswire-news","tag-non-government-organisations","tag-operation-slipper","tag-operations","tag-our-gratitude","tag-our-name","tag-our-nation","tag-our-national-story","tag-our-new-afghanistan-gallery","tag-our-respect","tag-over-100-years","tag-part","tag-peace","tag-police","tag-relation","tag-resilience","tag-retd","tag-sas-veteran","tag-september-11","tag-sergeant-tara-enchong","tag-service","tag-several-australian-defence-force-operations","tag-so-many-ways","tag-soldier","tag-son-and-daughter-trio","tag-stake","tag-sunday","tag-that-service","tag-the-2002-bali-bombings","tag-the-47-adf-members","tag-the-afghan-national-army","tag-the-allegations","tag-the-alleged-killings","tag-the-australian-war-memorial","tag-the-beginning","tag-the-bonds","tag-the-conflict","tag-the-country","tag-the-courage","tag-the-establishment","tag-the-fighters","tag-the-finest","tag-the-first","tag-the-first-father","tag-the-former-sas-soldier","tag-the-heart","tag-the-keepers","tag-the-killing","tag-the-middle-east-area","tag-the-principle","tag-the-process","tag-the-september-11-attacks","tag-the-service","tag-the-start","tag-the-strength","tag-the-subject","tag-the-then-afghan-army","tag-the-very-freedoms","tag-the-victoria-cross-recipient","tag-the-war","tag-the-war-memorial","tag-the-weight","tag-their-camaraderie","tag-their-character","tag-their-courage","tag-their-families","tag-their-service","tag-this-country","tag-this-story","tag-threat","tag-today","tag-tony-abbott","tag-top-stories","tag-unarmed-men","tag-veteran","tag-veterans-and-families","tag-veterans-minister-matt-keogh","tag-visible-and-invisible-wounds","tag-war-crime-murder","tag-war-crime-murder-charges","tag-war-criminal-ben-roberts-smith"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=924001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/924002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=924001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=924001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=924001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}